Anybody tried a small auxiliary fuel tank up by the carb allowing the fuel to flow through and on to carb, so when the fuel stops flowing from the main tank,on a long steep hill, it will flow from the auxiliary tank till one gets to the top of the hill. I know: Long sentence, but anyone on the recent Show-Me Tour knows why I am asking. Some have suggested a fuel pump, but I really would like to try something else before next years tour. Hints/Solutions. Thanks, Tim
Buy more Gas. Fuel Pump. Hi Tim, John Rogne
Full tank should help. If the hill is a long way from a gas station, it might be necessary to carry along a can of gas. A fuel pump could help, but can also be a source of other problems.
Norm
Thanks John and Norm: When I got off the trailer, I had 6 gallons in the tank, and that should have been enough---shouldn't it? And yes: I have an original three can running board set that will soon be on the car. Regards, Tim
So, Tim, you must have run upon a "seven gallon hill". I've been there.
Tim,
What you are asking for is a vacuum tank. It does what you need with the help of intake manifold vacuum.
Roar
There was a small tank you could buy in the T days that sat by the generator and would fill when on the level.
It held enough fuel to get you up any hill.
Remember too that if the hill is too steep you will not have oil flow to the front of the engine
Reminds me of the Floyd Clymer Ford Salesman story; He was demo-ing a T for a local Indian Chief who lived on top of a long climb. "I'll show you what this car can do" he says about halfway up. He swings into a turn off and backs the rest of the way up. The poor soul was impressed enough to buy the T and spent the rest of the time he owned it backing up the last half. But not for the same reason the salesman gave him. Apparently he didn't look for a cure.
Roar: Thanks for input, but the tank I am thinking of is not a vacuum tank (I have two cars with those), but is a small tank that is constantly filled by the main tank and on out to the carb. On the steep grade when fuel from the main tank no longer reaches the smaller one, the fuel flows from the smaller to the carb. Lang's 2010 catalog had one listed, but it is not in current catalog.
Here's one from a previous ACCESSORY OF THE DAY post.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/140733.html
Yes, there it is, in Adrians post - an idea from Murray Fahnestock's 1920's FordOwner magazine I think?
We have some pretty good hills here in TN, I have never had to back up one yet! I think back in the day the problem was not enough gas or worn out band linings. Have fun, KB
If you are talking about competition hill climbing, our Chris Egsgaard hill climber has a two gallon pressure tank that you fill with a gallon of gas and then pump it up to 120 p.s.i. with an air compressor. He installed a pressure reducer so as to get one pound of pressure for his Stromberg 97 and the whole tank with fuel weighs less than five pounds. Weight is your enemy when hill climbing, Chris did the 22 percent grade 1/10 of a mile long hill in just under eight seconds with that tank.
If you are talking about stock simply raise the tank and keep it full.
Jay: Thanks for the post---when I opened it, it jogged my memory so I went to the shop, and lo and behold, I have one of those. Had forgotten it in my accessory pile. Do not have the instructions however, so it was good to see them. My thought is just the way of the drawing, in that the fuel enters from the top and flows out the bottom to the carb. That way one would not have to remember to fill the auxiliary. If I get around to soldering something up, will let the Forum know. Appreciate all comments, and remember "If you ain't working on them, you ain't having fun". Regards, Tim
That auxiliary tank set up in that book looks like a problem maker, the small tank would need to be higher as the fuel pipe is at the top of the carb on most T's, then look at the fuel level on flat country, the way it is, the fuel tank will stop delivering fuel leaving 20/30% in the tank and lifting the auxiliary tank to work on a top filling carb, would make the % higher.
If the hill is steep enough to need that little tank, you are at or near the point where the internal oil line will be level or draining back. Hopefully you also have a reliable additional oil line that will prevent dry bearings.
Kerry: I agree that the tank in the book looks like a problem. I was thinking more along the lines of a long, narrow one more in line with the fuel line and then the bottom exit to the carb. It is just something one would have to experiment with cardboard mock-ups and do some figuring.
Walt: Yes the angle is important, and I run (as many do) an outside oil line. Plus, on the tour where I had problems, I was only about 100 yards from the crest of the hill when the fuel stopped flowing, so I do not think oiling would be a problem. Had I had a little more fuel, I could have crawled up the hill behind the extremely slow moving vehicle ahead of me.
Here is one that was shown in the Vintage Ford Vol 8 No 3
It fits inside the chassis should be self explainitary.
Or you could block off the breather hole in the gas tank cap and add a pump to pressurise it.
You could also do what they did on the early Center door sedans and use one of the longer inlet manifold so the carby sits lower under the car, They may be hard to find but cutting two manifold up to make a longer one would not be too difficult.
Still best option is to have a full tank
Thanks Peter for the pics and ideas. Will look at that issue. Regards, Tim